NM Airports Likely To Lose Towers

The Federal Aviation Administration has notified the Santa Fe, Hobbs and Double Eagle Airport in Albuquerque that they will lose funding for their control towers unless they prove a pressing national interest for being spared the federal budget-cutting axe.

FAA officials say a final decision on which towers will lose their funding will be made next week, but the bar for exemption is high. The cities could opt to fund the towers themselves.

Officials with United and American Airlines have declined to say whether they will continue to service the Santa Fe and Hobbs airports if their towers are closed.

The Roswell airport was also targeted for potential closure. But it is staffed with FAA employees so any decision about that airport will come later.